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To: PatrickHenry
Many natural phenomena which we now understand -- because of science -- were previously believed by various religions to be supernatural: Lightning, storms, tides, disease, gravity, the motions of the planets, etc

I certainly agree with the above. Let us not forget that many natural phenomena have been grossly misunderstood because of bad science. ---Phlogiston, spontaneous generation, even a geocentric universe, blood letting, infinite universe just to name a few. In fact the foolishness of much science can be compared to the foolishness of superstitions. I imagine 100 years from now scientists will scoff at our science as ridiculous theories attempting "to save the phenomenom"

96 posted on 01/15/2002 6:20:53 PM PST by week 71
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To: week 71
Let us not forget that many natural phenomena have been grossly misunderstood because of bad science. ---Phlogiston, spontaneous generation, even a geocentric universe, blood letting, infinite universe just to name a few. In fact the foolishness of much science can be compared to the foolishness of superstitions. I imagine 100 years from now scientists will scoff at our science as ridiculous theories attempting "to save the phenomenom"

Right. As theories are demonstrated to be inadequate, scientists will follow the data; and old theories will be junked in favor of better ones that can account for the new information. So in a century or so, we'll probably have a better understanding of the forces of nature, with better theories than we have today. They won't look back on today's scientists as idiots, any more than we look back on Isaac Newton that way. We're doing the best we can to understand the data we have. Also, 100 years hence, theology will be maintaining the same doctrines that it does today. The strength of science is its ability to learn and grow; while the strength of theology is the stability it provides.

105 posted on 01/16/2002 2:33:43 AM PST by PatrickHenry
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